Automobile camp bed



June 30, 1925. 1,544,505

W. H. TOPE AUTOMOBILE CAMP BED Filed March 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wa"5. gnuawlfom 5 Wzliaizvfi Tape.

June 30, 1925. 1,544,505

W. H. TOPE AUTOMOBILE CAMP BED Filed Marsh 1'7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Tape.

Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. worn, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE CAMP BED.

Application filed March 17, 1923. Serial No. 625,874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. Torn, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Camp Beds, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to beds designed for use by, automobile touristsand others for sleeping outdoors, and the object of the invention is toprovide a novel and improved frame for supporting a bed bottom, saidframe being of knock-down construction so that it may be formed into asmall and compact bundle and carried on the, running board, underrtheseat, or at any other convenient place on the car. The structure is alsosuch that the bed may-be made in the car or on the ground.

The objects stated are attained by means of a combination andarrangement of parts to be hereinafter described andclaimed, and inorder that the same may be better understood, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a fragment of an automobile bodyshowing the bed in place and ready for use; Fig. 2 is a plan view of thebed-frame; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing thebed set up on theground with a covering thereon; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectionon the line 4L l of Fig. 8, and Fig. is an enlarged.

horizontal section thru a portion of the OlOSS1fl1l.=tO show lockingmeans.

' In carrying out the imention I provide a frame for supporting a sheet10 of heavy duck or other suitable fabric, which is the bed bottom. Thisframe is composed of laterally spaced sectional side rails connected bya front cross rail from which extends forwardly a sectional supportingarm for one end ofthe sheet 10; I g

Each side rail is composed of telescopically connected members 11 and12, the

formerbeing hollow to slidably receive the latter. Cross-pins or othersuitable means 13 are provided for holding the members in adjustedposition. This structure permits the side rails to be lengthened orshortened. The side rail sections are preferably angularin cross-sectionto prevent relative rotation but any other suitable means for securingthis result may be employed.

In the outer end of each rail section 12 is removably secured a shortupstanding end piece or post 14,'said section being hollow so that ashort shank 15of angular cross-section, extending laterally from the endpiece, may be telescopically fitted thereinto, being held therein by thetension of the sheet or bed bottom 10 aswill be apparent. To the upperends of the end pieces 14 are fitted elbows 1'? to whichthe frontcross-rail 18 is detachably coupled at its ends, one end of cross-rail18.being threaded within its elbow 17 while the other end is preferablysecured to its coupling by means of a crosspin 19 or the like. Midwaybetween its ends, the cross-rail18 loosely supports a sleeve 20 having aforwardly extending branch to which is removably connected the sectionalsupporting arm, for one end of the sheet 10. This arm consists of innerandouter sections 21 and 22, the latter being threaded to screw ,intothe former so that longitudinal adjustment may be made. The sleeve 20 isrotatable onthe cross-rail 18 to vary' the angle of the arm sections 21and 22, the parts being locked in adjusted position by a cross-pin 32 ina, manner that will ,now be described.

Upon reference to Fig. 5 it will be noted that the cross-rail 18 iscylindrical in cross section and is provided between its medial portionand one endwith an internal abutment 18 which may be formedin any preferred manner, the same being transversely apertured for the passage ofa rod 16 which extends longitudinally of said cross-rail 18 emergingthru an aperture in the elbow 17. The inner end of the rod 16 carries acup like head 28 which receives the transversely disposed cross-pin 32the ends of which extend outwardly thru opposed slots in the cross-rail18 and are adapted to be engaged in selected pairs of notches 82 in theadjacent edge of the sleeve 20, thus permitting angular adjustment ofthe forwardly extending branch. In order to hold the ends of the pin 32in selected notches 32, a coil spring 28: encircling the rod 16 betweenthe abutment 18 and the back of the head 28 is provided tending to urgethe pins toward the notches. It will be understood of course that thespring 28*" will not be of such strength as to slide the sleeve 20 uponthe cross-rail 18.-

The forward end of the arm section 22 carries a loose hook 24 and aT-head 25, the latter being for the purpose of facilitating rotation ofthearm section by the insertion of a screwdriver-or other suitabledevice into said T-head.

To the rear end of each rail section '1]. is

removably secured annpward GK-bQIlSlQl'ls or.

end piece 26, the same having a. shank 27 which is held in said railsect-ion -by'the tension of the sheet 10, special fasteners beingunnecessary. This endpie'ce carries a rearwardly directed hook 29. V

The sheet 10 which formsthebedbottom is fastened at itsrear endto a'rigid cross .bar 30 having depending posts 31 at its'ends to slip in theupper socketed ends of the end pieces 26 of theside-'rail'members 11.The

-posts 31. are removable and they are also held in place by the tensionof the sheet 10.

At itsforward"end',the sheet-1O is secured to a rigi'd crossbar 33provided midway between its ends with an eye 34.- which is adaptedjtdbeslipped over the hook 24.

The sheet"being-attached at its ends to the bed "frame as hereinbeforedescribed, it may be-s tretched taut by the lever motion of the arm '21or by rotating the arm section'QQ in -afdi'rect'ion to run the'same outof the section 21 or'both. The hook- 24 will not interfere with thisoperation as it is loose or swiveled on the section 22. Figures 1 and 2.illustratethat theyjprovision of the single forwardly extending arm21'22 between the longitudinal sides oft-he frame permits the bed to beattached to or mounted on a motor vehicle without special. reference tothe location of the steering Wheel. "That is to say,

the steering wheel will not in anyway interfere with theapp'licati'on'of the bedto a motor vehicle"as-would "be the case it twoforwardly extending armsat opposite sides oft-he bed were provided. Thisconstitutes a major advantage. i

From the 'fOI'QQOiDQ description read "in connection with t saccompanying" drawing it willbe evident that" the pivotalconnectionbetween the members 14 andl? permits the side rails to'be swungoutwardly to'receii'e a supportingsheet 1O of greaterwidth. so

' that two persons may beaccoi'ninodated, it beingunderstood-thatthesheets 10 with their frameswill be made in Varioussizes. 7 F 1g. 1 Illustrates how the bed is supported 1 in the body ofan automobile. The hooks 29 are engaged over the top of the back rest 35'of'the rearseat, and the cross rail 18 is laid on top ofth baclrrest36ofthe' frontiseat.

The frame of the bed is thus supported by the back'rests of'the'twoseatsf-andthe side on said side rail.

"ious forma support fo-rthesameif itshould sag'too much. As the railsections'll andlQ are-adjustable, the frame "canbe readily adjusted to'suitthe spacing of the "seat backs -35-and-36.

ig. 3'shows the-bed set up on the ground, the side rail section 11 and12 seating on the flatter. When used in thislocation, the bed will beprovided with a canopy 39 supportedbyfrontand rear end cross rails 40having depending legs ll at their ends, the same being hinged 'asshoxinat 42 so ithatf they may befolded" when they are to be packed away. Inthe cross-bars30*a2ndf33 areverti cal apertures 43' to seat" the legs41.

The canopy 39'-has"side flaps a l. The ends .of the canopy havedownward'e'xtentions 45 which are buttoned 'or- "otherwise detachably secured,as shown ate-6, to' short flaps or extensions 47' of' 'the' sheet 10.

' As the canopysiipportingnieans 4 0 are at tached' to the cross-bars30and '38, the canopy will also be stretchedwhen the seat 1 10 isstretched as hereinbe fore described. 7

1 \Vhile the preferred embodiment ot the pieces, a cr0ssrailconnectingthefrontend' pieces, adorwardly a iid longitudinallyextendingarm connectedto" the crossrail intermediate the ends 5 thereof, said arm1 having an outer {section-which is adjustable lengthwise, a-bed bottom-'consist'ing of a' -fa bric sheet, cross bars"fitted' to the ends ofsaid sheet, niean sforcoimecti ng one "of said crossbars to theaforesaidrear end pieces, and means forconnecting the other cross-bar to theouter-sectio-n ofthe a-fOresa'id arm.

QJA camp-bedcomprising a pair oit' laterallyispaced side rails-composedof longitudinally adjiist'able sections, ups-tand-i-no front and rearfend pieces carried by said rails, suspension means carriedby the rearend pieces, a cross rail"connecting the front endpieces, a forw'ardlyand longitudinally extending arm connected to the cross-railintermediate the ends thereof, said arm having- *an outer sect'ion'which -'is adjustable lengthwise, a bedbottom"consistingof afabric'sheet, cross-bars fitte'djto the ends-of said sheet, :means"forconnectingone of said cross-bars to i the aforesaid rear end: pieces,and means foi" co1ii1ecting*tlie ot lier-cross-bar to the outer sectionof theiaforesaid' arm.

3. A camp 'bed' eompris-inga pair of laterally spaced side rails,upstending new and rear endpieces carried by said rails and havingdetachable. connections therewith, suspension-means carried by therearend pieces, a cross-rail connecting the front end pieces, a forwardlyand longitudinally extending arm connected to the cross-railintermediate the ends thereof, said arm having an outer section which isadjustable lengthwise, a bed bottom consisting of a fabric sheet,cross-bars fitted to the ends of said sheet, means for connecting one ofsaid cross-bars to the aforesaid rear end pieces, and means forconnecting the other cross-bar to the outer section of the aforesaidarm.

4. A camp bed comprising a pair of laterally spaced side rails,upstanding front and rear end pieces carried by said rails, suspensionmeans carried by the rear end pieces, a cross-rail connecting the frontend pieces and removably attached thereto, a

' forwardly and longitudinally extending arm connected to the cross railintermediate the ends thereof, said arm having an outer section which isadjustable lengthwise, a bed bottom consisting of a fabric sheet,crossbars fitted to the ends of said sheet, means of connecting one ofsaid cross-bars to the aforesaid rear end pieces, and means forconnecting the other crossbar to the outer section of the aforesaid arm.

5. A camp bed comprising a pair of laterally spaced side rails,upstanding front and rear end pieces carried by said rails, suspensionmeans carried by the rear end pieces, a cross-rail connecting the frontend pieces, a forwardly and longitudinally extending arm pivotallyconnected to the cross-rail intermediate the ends thereof, said armhaving an outer section which is adjustable lengthwise, means forlocking the arm in rigid position, a bed bottom consisting of a fabricsheet, cross-bars fitted to the ends of said sheet, means for connectingone of said crossbars to the aforesaid rear end pieces, and

means for connecting the other cross-bar to the outer section of theaforesaid arm.

6. A camp bed comprising a pair of laterally spaced side rails,upstanding front and rear end pieces carried by said rails, suspensionmeans carriedby the rear end pieces, a cross-rail connecting the frontend pieces, a forwardly and longitudinally extending arm connected tothe cross-rail intermediate the ends thereof, said arm having an outersection which is adjustable lengthwise, a bed bottom consisting of afabric sheet, crossbars fitted to the ends of said sheet, means fordetachably connecting one of saidcrossbars to the aforesaid rear endpieces, and means for detachably connecting the other cross-bar to theouter section of the aforesaid arm.

7. A camp bed comprising a pair of laterally spaced side rails composedof longitudinally adjustable sections, upstanding front and rear endpieces carried by'said rails and having detachable connectionstherewith, suspension means carried by the rear end pieces, a cross-railconnecting the front end pieces and removably attached thereto, aforwardly and longitudinally extending arm pivotally connected to thecrossrail intermediate the ends thereof, said arm having an outersection which is adjustable lengthwise, means for locking the arm inrigid position, a bed bottom consisting of a fabric sheet, cross-barsfitted to the ends of said sheet, means for detachably connecting one ofsaid cross-bars to the aforesaid rear end pieces, and means fordetachably connecting the other cross-bar to the outer section of theaforesaid arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM H. TOPE.

